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    GIO'S COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS

  • Jan-Michael Stump

    GIO'S COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS

  • Jan-Michael Stump

    GIO'S COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS
August 24, 2008

Hands On: Restaurant owner opens up kitchen for demos

By LISA PERKINS

KALKASKA -- Chef Gio, of Gio's Trattoria Grill, is more than happy to welcome visitors into his new state of the art kitchen. In fact, he will even share recipes and cooking tips with interested food-lovers.

Greg Vereyken, known as Chef Gio, and assistant chef Sandy Putnam, will prepare a meal of favorite Italian dishes for cooking and dining clubs or other groups who are interested in seeing their meal cooked before their eyes.

"We thought it would be something fun for people around here, with all the popularity of cooking shows, people are more interested in seeing how their food is prepared," said Chef Gio, who along with his wife Crystal opened the Kalkaska restaurant in June.

Chef Gio, who attended culinary school in Tulsa and has been in the restaurant business for 20 years, hopes that providing the free demonstrations will bring patrons in for a taste -- and the food will keep them coming back.

"We typically prepare food that I like to eat -- chicken carbonara, antipasta salad and tiramisu," said Gio, noting that other menu items may be substituted, depending on the preferences of the participants.

Sherri Thrasher, who along with her neighbors in the Starvation Lake Club near Kalkaska, sampled Chef Gio's dishes and found some new favorite recipes to add to her collection.

"A group of my neighbors and I get together and cook a lot, we like to try new things," said Thrasher, who has prepared the tiramisu dessert to rave reviews from her family and friends.

"It was really interesting to see him work," said Thrasher.

In addition to some favorite recipes, Chef Gio shares important tips for cooks at all skill levels.

"I find that very few people know how to use a knife correctly. They grew up watching their mother cut and they cut things the same way," said Gio, who says that using a knife properly not only makes cutting easier, but is also much safer.

Chef Gio has plans in the works to add a kitchen garden tour to the live cooking demonstrations.

"Next summer we hope to have a kitchen garden on our side lot to grow herbs, tomatoes and other vegetables that we will use in our kitchen," said Gio, who will use the fresh ingredients in the menu that consists primarily of Italian cuisine along with seafood and steaks.

Gio's Trattoria Grill is located at 2325 U.S. 131 N, in Kalkaska. For more information or to schedule a cooking demonstration, call 231-384-4444.

Recipes from the menu of Gio's Trattoria Grill:

Alfredo Sauce

1/4 pound butter

1 T. minced garlic clove

1 quart heavy cream

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. white pepper

Melt butter in saute pan and saute the garlic. Reduce heat to medium. Slowly add cream, stirring constantly and bring to low boil. Add salt and pepper and Parmesan and stir until melted and smooth. Remove from heat immediately. Stir into ala dente pasta. Linguini or fettuccine is traditional. Serves 4.

Bananas Foster Sauce

3 bananas sliced into 1/4 inch slices

1 pound brown sugar

1/4 pound butter

1 oz. brandy or Amaretto

Melt the butter and lightly saute the banana slices. Add the brown sugar and brandy or Amaretto and heat to melt. Serve over ice cream or cheesecake. You can flambe the sauce for drama if desired. Keeps and reheats well. Serves 4 or more.

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